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At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Preventing cross infection of blood borne viruses on haemodialysis.

A chronic haemodialysis patient acquired hepatitis C. It was thought certain that this had occurred while dialysing in a satellite dialysis unit. The incident initiated a review of current measures in place to prevent the transmission of blood-borne viruses (BBV) on haemodialysis, with an analysis of current literature on the topic. It was found that the author's unit and several additional local units had no written protocols on prevention of BBV during haemodialysis, and methods of prevention were largely verbally communicated. A review of the literature gave conflicting opinions on the effectiveness of different measures to prevent cross-infection. Following the assessments and literature review, the appropriateness of certain preventative measures was looked at in more detail. A local protocol was subsequently developed and implemented at the author's Trust, which will significantly change practice in the haemodialysis unit.

Blood-Borne Pathogens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of the infection control nurse in quality management in the ambulatory care setting.

Due to the potential for increased HIV and hepatitis B transmission to all healthcare workers, the regulations and guidelines set forth by federal, state, and local government agencies for the prevention of these diseases and the protection of those in the healthcare industry are constantly updated. Because of the magnitude of these demands, the role of the infection control nurse (ICN) has become vitally important. The proper utilization of valuable staff resources will be a positive force in promoting the necessary quality of care to employers, employees, and clients. With the dedication of personnel who assist in the essential infection control function, the ICN can maximize protection of the clients and the staff by reducing their exposure to HIV and hepatitis B.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMed2001

The clinical risks of infection associated with endoscopy.

The cleaning of flexible endoscopes is difficult and time consuming. Any method of attempted sterilization or high level disinfection will fail if prior cleaning has been defective. Inadequate reprocessing of endoscopes may result in patient to patient transmission of serious bacterial and viral diseases or infection with endemic hospital pathogens. Antibiotic prophylaxis is required to prevent septicemia and bacterial endocarditis in high risk patients undergoing specific endoscopic procedures. Prevention of serious endoscopy-associated clinical infections requires strict compliance with detailed reprocessing protocols by specially trained nursing staff.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of frequent guidewire changes on triple-lumen catheter sepsis.

Frequent guidewire changes of single-lumen (SLC) and triple-lumen (TLC) catheters have been proposed to decrease catheter sepsis. We placed TLC in 126 patients needing total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and multiple venous access, prospectively randomizing them to two groups: group I received a guidewire change every 3 days, and group II received guidewire changes for mechanical or septic complications only. Tips were cultured at each line change and tips and blood for each septic episode. Catheter sepsis was defined by the criteria of the Association for Practitioners in Infection Control (APIC). There were 67 positive cultures in 52 patients, but most produced very few colonies or grew the same organisms in other infection sites. Forty-seven% of all cultures grew Staphylococci, and 23% grew Candida. APIC-defined catheter sepsis was detected in 12.7% of group I and 15.9% of group II. Although we observed no statistically significant difference in the two techniques, if we assume that a 20% difference in the incidence of catheter-induced sepsis would be important to detect, the probability of failing to detect such a difference is 0.24 with an 0.05 level of significance (two-sided). Prophylactic guidewire changes did not alter the incidence of catheter sepsis in patients with TLC who required TPN. The high rate of sepsis and Candida infection may be due to the critical illness of the immunocompromised population studied.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Strategic alliance between the infectious diseases specialist and intensive care unit physician for change in antibiotic use.

There is a general consensus that antimicrobial use in intensive care units (ICU) is greater than that in general wards. By implementing a strategy of systematic infectious disease consultations in agreement with the ICU chief, we have modified the antibiotic prescription habits of the ICU physician. A reduction was observed in the use of selected antibiotics (third-generation cephalosporins, vancomycin, carbapenems and piperacillin-tazobactam), with a significant reduction in the length of hospital stay for ICU patients and lower antibiotic costs without negative impact on patient mortality. Leadership by the infectious diseases consultant in combination with commitment by ICU physicians is a simple and effective method to change antibiotic prescription habits in the ICU.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2003

The funding and organization of infection control in NHS hospital trusts: a study of infection control professionals' views.

The problems associated with hospital-acquired infection have been causing increasing concern in England in recent years. This paper reports the results of a nationwide survey of hospital infection control professionals' views concerning the organizational structures used to manage and obtain funding for control of infection. A complex picture with significant variation between hospitals emerges. Although government policy dictates that specific funding for hospital infection control is formally made available, it is not always the case that infection control professionals have adequate resources to undertake their roles. In some cases this reflects the failure of hospitals' infection control budgetary mechanisms; in others it reflects the effects of decentralizing budgets to directorate or ward level. Some use was made of informal mechanisms either to supplement or to substitute for the formal ones. But almost all infection control professionals still believed they were constrained in their ability to protect the hospital population from the risk of infectious disease. It is clear that recent government announcements that increased effort will be made to support local structures and thereby improve the control of hospital acquired infection are to be welcomed.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Introducing high quality infection control in a hospital setting.

Hospital infection is a quality issue and as such has become an important topic in the current health care debate. Quality assurance and resource management are becoming integral to the measurement of nursing standards in clinical practice. Quality assurance is, in many ways, inseparable from effective infection control. This article outlines the development of such a high profile demonstration unit named Quality Infection Control (QIC) and discusses its strengths and weaknesses.

Hospitals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nurses' documentation of infection control precautions: 1.

Inadequate nursing records may contribute to untoward incidents and yet advised precautions for the control of infection can be poorly documented. The infection control nurse must promote a safe environment for the patient and ensure that an effective control policy is carried out. The literature suggests that nurses may lack the necessary knowledge and skills with which to assess, plan and evaluate appropriate care for safe infection control. This article, the first of two parts, discusses these issues together with various strategies at the infection control nurse's disposal that may influence nursing practice and the documentation of care.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Three major issues in infection control.

In considering the three major issues in infection control the author decided upon education and empowerment, community practices, and research availability and application as they span a range of infection control practices and healthcare settings. Education and empowerment of staff is needed to ensure safe practice. This requires collaboration between education providers and infection control personnel and should be available to all disciplines of staff. Infection control needs to be seamless across the primary and secondary care interface and must include infection prevention advice to the population in general. Evidence relating to infection control is either lacking or not achievable. When it is available, it is not always implemented because of lack of resources.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An infection control link nurse network in the care home setting.

Link nurse groups or networks are used to enhance practice at clinical level (Cooper, 2001), improve the collaboration and education of nursing staff (MacArthur, 1998) and, therefore, have an effect on patient care. The use of link nurse networks is widespread and applied to a range of nursing specialties, particularly in acute settings. Reference in the literature to link nurse networks in nursing homes is very limited, despite their existence. This article examines the advantages and disadvantages of link nurse networks and the link nurse role as described in the literature. In addition, comparisons are made with an established infection control link nurse network in North Wales nursing homes. The article describes the assessment of the North Wales network using an audit cycle. The efficacy of link nurse networks is rarely considered; however, the process of audit can enable the evaluation of the link nurse network in relation to staff education, monitoring of infection control practice and dissemination of information.

Education, Nursing, Continuing↗